Two-handed object manipulations in virtual reality

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are described for generating a virtual environment including at least one three-dimensional virtual object within a user interface provided in a head mounted display device, detecting a first interaction pattern and a second interaction pattern. In response to detecting the second interaction pattern, a modified version of the three-dimensional virtual object at the first virtual feature is generated according to the first interaction pattern and at the second virtual feature according to the second interaction pattern. The modified version of the three-dimensional virtual object is provided in the user interface in the head mounted display device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This description generally relates to methods and devices for scaling,rotating, and otherwise manipulating objects in a virtual reality (VR)environment.

BACKGROUND

Object and shape manipulation techniques can be configured to operate ona particular object or alternatively to operate on an environmentsurrounding the particular object. Such techniques can include deformingand warping objects or environments to accomplish a change in how theobject or environment appears. Manipulating objects in a virtual realityenvironment can present a number of technical problems inherent to userperception of viewing and interacting with such objects.

SUMMARY

A system of one or more computers can be configured to performparticular operations or actions by virtue of having software, firmware,hardware, or a combination of them installed on the system that inoperation causes or cause the system to perform the actions. One or morecomputer programs can be configured to perform particular operations oractions by virtue of including instructions that, when executed by dataprocessing apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the actions. Onegeneral aspect includes a computer-implemented method includinggenerating a virtual environment including at least onethree-dimensional virtual object within a user interface provided in ahead mounted display device and detecting a first interaction pattern.The first interaction pattern may include an indication to modify afirst virtual feature associated with the three-dimensional virtualobject. The method may also include detecting a second interactionpattern in which the second interaction pattern includes an orientationand movement corresponding to a modification to be performed on a secondvirtual feature associated with the three-dimensional virtual object. Inresponse to detecting the second interaction pattern, the method mayinclude generating a modified version of the three-dimensional virtualobject at the first virtual feature according to the first interactionpattern and at the second virtual feature according to the secondinteraction pattern and providing, in the user interface in the headmounted display device, the modified version of the three-dimensionalvirtual object. Other embodiments of this aspect include correspondingcomputer systems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one ormore computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions ofthe methods.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Themethod in which the modified version of the three-dimensional virtualobject is generated and rendered in the virtual environment while themovement occurs. The method in which the first interaction patterndefines a location in which to begin modifying the first virtualfeature, the second interaction pattern defines a direction andorientation away from the second virtual feature, and the modifiedversion of the three-dimensional virtual object includes a scaledversion of the three-dimensional virtual object. The scaled version maybe scaled from the first virtual feature toward the second virtualfeature. The method in which the modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object is adjusted from the first virtualfeature to a new position, orientation, and scale of thethree-dimensional virtual object and adjusted from the second virtualfeature to a new position, orientation, and scale of the three-dimensionvirtual object. The modified version may be within a user field of viewin the virtual environment.

Implementations may also include enabling a uniform scaling mode inresponse to detecting that the first interaction pattern is performed inthe same axis of the three dimensions as the second interaction pattern.The uniform scaling mode may be configured to scale thethree-dimensional virtual object evenly in three dimensions according tothe first and second interaction patterns.

The method may also include generating a modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object at the first virtual feature accordingto the first interaction pattern and at the second virtual featureaccording to the second interaction pattern by stretching and twistingthe three-dimensional virtual object. The stretching may includedefining a first anchor point and a second anchor point on thethree-dimensional virtual object and stretching in a plane formedbetween the first anchor point and the second anchor point. Twisting thethree-dimensional virtual object may include rotating thethree-dimensional virtual object in 3D space at the first virtualfeature in a first input plane and rotating the three-dimensionalvirtual object includes rotating the three-dimensional virtual object in3D space at the second virtual feature from a second input plane to athird input plane The first input plane corresponds to an x-y coordinateplane, the second input plane corresponds to a y-z coordinate plane, andthe third input plane corresponds to an x-z coordinate plane, and eachplane may be of a three-dimensional coordinate space.

Detecting the first interaction pattern may include detecting a firstinput associated with a first tracked device and detecting the secondinteraction pattern includes detecting a second input associated with asecond tracked device. The method may also include generating a firstintersection point at the first virtual feature based at least in parton detecting a first tracked hand movement performed by a left hand ofthe user accessing the virtual environment and generating a secondintersection point at the second virtual feature, based at least in parton detecting a second tracked hand movement performed by a right hand ofthe user accessing the virtual environment. The method may also includemodifying the three-dimensional virtual object according to the firstand second interaction patterns. The modifying may be based at least inpart on determining that at least one gesture performed in the first orsecond tracked hand movement is a change in orientation associated withthe three-dimensional virtual object and performing the at least onegesture while modifying the three-dimensional object according toanother gesture.

The method may also include generating an anchor point configured tofreeze, in three-dimensional space, a portion of the three-dimensionalvirtual object, at the first intersection point while modifying thethree-dimensional object at the second virtual feature according to thesecond interaction pattern. Generating an anchor point includes definingat least one location on the three-dimensional virtual object as aselectable scaling location, the selectable scaling location beingoperable to receive a user-initiated input, the user-initiated inputincluding at least one gesture indicating instructions for scaling thethree-dimensional virtual object. The method may also include enabling auniform scaling mode in response to detecting that the first electronicdevice is oriented to face the second electronic device. The uniformscaling mode may be configured to scale the three-dimensional virtualobject evenly in three dimensions according to the first interactionpattern and the second interaction pattern.

The method may also include detecting that the first electronic deviceis oriented to face the second electronic device includes: detecting aninitial position and orientation of the second electronic devicerelative to the first electronic device. The method may also includetracking at least one gesture performed by the second electronic devicerelative to the first electronic device and detecting an alignment ofthe second electronic device to the first electronic device by comparingthe initial position and orientation of the second electronic devicerelative to the first electronic device with a detected updated positionand orientation of the first or the second electronic device. Thedetected updated position may be based on the at least one gesture.Generating a modified version of the three-dimensional virtual object atthe first virtual feature includes providing a visual indication, in thevirtual environment and affixed to the three-dimensional virtual object,the visual indication including a plurality of anchor points definingsnapping frames configured to select at least one coordinate system inwhich to translate and rotate the virtual object in three dimensions. Inresponse to detecting the second interaction pattern, the method mayinclude defining a rotation path to rotate the three-dimensional virtualobject around a location associated with the first virtual feature.

Another general aspect includes a computer-implemented method thatincludes detecting, in a three-dimensional virtual environment, a firstinteraction pattern performed by a first electronic device, the firstinteraction pattern including an indication to modify a first virtualfeature associated with a three-dimensional virtual object rendered inthe virtual environment. The method also includes detecting, in thethree-dimensional virtual environment, a second interaction patternperformed by a second electronic device, the second interaction patternincluding an orientation and movement corresponding to a modification tobe performed on a second virtual feature associated with thethree-dimensional virtual object. In response to detecting the secondinteraction pattern, generating a modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object at the first virtual feature accordingto the first interaction pattern and at the second virtual featureaccording to the second interaction pattern. The method may also includerendering, in a user interface of a head mounted display device, themodified version of the three-dimensional virtual object according tothe first interaction pattern and the second interaction pattern. Otherembodiments of this aspect include corresponding computer systems,apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or more computerstorage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the methods.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Themethod may also include enabling a uniform scaling mode in response todetecting that the first electronic device is oriented to face thesecond electronic device. The uniform scaling mode may be configured toscale the three-dimensional virtual object evenly in three dimensionsaccording to the first interaction pattern and the second interactionpattern. Detecting that the first electronic device is oriented to facethe second electronic device may include detecting an initial positionand orientation of the second electronic device relative to the firstelectronic device.

The method may also include tracking at least one gesture performed bythe second electronic device relative to the first electronic device anddetecting an alignment of the second electronic device to the firstelectronic device by comparing the initial position and orientation ofthe second electronic device relative to the first electronic devicewith a detected updated position and orientation of the first or thesecond electronic device. The detected updated position may be based onthe at least one gesture. Generating a modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object at the first virtual feature mayinclude providing a visual indication, in the virtual environment andaffixed to the three-dimensional virtual object. The visual indicationmay include a plurality of anchor points defining snapping framesconfigured to select at least one coordinate system in which totranslate and rotate the virtual object in three dimensions. In responseto detecting the second interaction pattern, the method may includedefining a rotation path to rotate the three-dimensional virtual objectaround a location associated with the first virtual feature. Thecharacteristics associated with the virtual object include one or moreof a planarity, a dimension, an area, an orientation, a corner, aboundary, a contour or a surface texture for the virtual object.

The method may include generating a virtual reality environmentincluding the three dimensional virtual model of the of the virtualobject in the virtual reality environment and automatically scaling thevirtual object while rotating the virtual object in three dimensions inthe generated virtual reality environment based on a two-handinteraction performed by a user and detected plurality ofcharacteristics associated with the virtual object. Implementations ofthe described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, orcomputer software on a computer-accessible medium.

In another general aspect, a system is described that includes at leastone computing device configured to generate a virtual environment. Theat least one computing device may include a memory storing executableinstruction and a processor configured to execute the instructions, tocause the at least one computing device to generate a virtualenvironment including at least one three-dimensional virtual objectwithin a user interface provided in a head mounted display device,detect a first interaction pattern, the first interaction patternincluding an indication to modify a first virtual feature associatedwith the three-dimensional virtual object, detect a second interactionpattern, the second interaction pattern including an orientation andmovement corresponding to a modification to be performed on a secondvirtual feature associated with the three-dimensional virtual object,and in response to detecting the second interaction pattern, generate amodified version of the three-dimensional virtual object at the firstvirtual feature according to the first interaction pattern and at thesecond virtual feature according to the second interaction pattern. Themodified version may be provided in the user interface in the headmounted display device. Other embodiments of this aspect includecorresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programsrecorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured toperform the actions of the methods.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Thesystem in which the modified version of the three-dimensional virtualobject is generated and rendered in the virtual environment while themovement occurs. The system in which the first interaction patterndefines a location in which to begin modifying the first virtualfeature. The second interaction pattern may define a direction andorientation away from the second virtual feature, and the modifiedversion of the three-dimensional virtual object includes a scaledversion of the three-dimensional virtual object, the scaled versionbeing scaled from the first virtual feature toward the second virtualfeature. The system in which the modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object is adjusted from the first virtualfeature to a new position, orientation, and scale of thethree-dimensional virtual object and adjusted from the second virtualfeature to a new position, orientation, and scale of the three-dimensionvirtual object in which the modified version is within a user field ofview in the virtual environment.

The system may also enable a uniform scaling mode in response todetecting that the first interaction pattern is performed in a sharedaxis plane with the second interaction pattern, where the uniformscaling mode is configured to scale the three-dimensional virtual objectevenly in three dimensions according to the first and second interactionpatterns.

In another general aspect, a method is described that includesobtaining, with one or more optical sensors of a computing device, aplurality of characteristics about a virtual object, generating, by aprocessor of the computing device, a three-dimensional virtual model ofthe virtual object based on the plurality of characteristics, andprocessing, by the processor, the plurality of characteristics and thethree-dimensional virtual model to define a plurality of anchor pointsin the three-dimensional virtual model. The plurality of anchor pointsmay be respectively associated with a plurality of selectable regions onthe virtual object. In response to receiving an input selecting at leasttwo of the plurality of regions, the method may include correlating theinput for each region in the plurality of regions, modifying a size andorientation of the virtual object, based on the correlation and on theplurality of characteristics associated with the virtual object,rendering and displaying a modified virtual object in thethree-dimensional virtual model. In some implementations, the pluralityof characteristics associated with the virtual object include one ormore of a planarity, a dimension, an area, an orientation, a corner, aboundary, a contour or a surface texture for the virtual object.

In some implementations, the method may include generating a virtualreality environment including the three dimensional virtual model of theof the virtual object in the virtual reality environment andautomatically scaling the virtual object while rotating the virtualobject in three dimensions in the generated virtual reality environmentbased on a two-hand interaction performed by a user and detectedplurality of characteristics associated with the virtual object.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will beapparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system for manipulating 2D and3D content in a virtual reality (VR) space.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting controllers communicably coupled toan HMD device in a VR space.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate a user accessing a VR space to perform virtualobject manipulations.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an example of snapping virtualobjects to locations.

FIGS. 5A-C illustrate examples of a user accessing a VR space to performvirtual object manipulations.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart diagramming one embodiment of a process to enablea user to manipulate content in a VR space.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart diagramming one embodiment of another process tomodify 3D image content in a VR space.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart diagramming one embodiment of a process togenerate a model of a virtual object.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a computer device and a mobile computerdevice that can be used to implement the techniques described herein.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A user immersed in a 3D virtual environment wearing a VR headset or ahead mounted display (HMD) device may explore the 3D virtualenvironment/VR space and interact with content and objects in the VRspace through various different types of inputs. These inputs mayinclude, for example, physical interactions that are translated into theVR space using the methods and systems described herein. The physicalinteractions may include manipulation of one or more controller devicesseparate from the HMD device, and/or through hand/arm gestures, headmovements, eye directional gaze, and the like. In general, the hand/armgestures and controller device movements can be tracked or otherwisesensed to determine positions, locations, orientations, and movements ofthe hands and/or arms of a user accessing an HMD device in the VR space.Such gestures and movements can be defined to allow users to manipulatevirtual objects in an intuitive manner. Hands and arms of the user maybe tracked and visually represented in the VR space to visually indicatefeedback to the user regarding movements and/or manipulation of virtualobjects. In some implementation, the user may be tracked and a full bodyrepresentation of the user may be visually represented in the VR space.

Interactions and manipulations with virtual objects can be associatedwith user hand, arm, or controller-based gestures. The associationbetween the virtual objects and user hand, arm, or controller-basedgestures can be used to determine that a user wishes to modifyparticular virtual objects in a specific way. For example, the systemsand methods described in this disclosure can facilitate data correlationand exchanges between two hands of a user or two controllers operated bythe user by tracking, in three dimensions to enable the user to graspvirtual objects in the VR space and modify such objects. The datacorrelation and data exchanges between two hands or two controllers canbe monitored, tracked, and analyzed to determine, particular movements,positions, rotations, speed, orientation, or other movement within sixor more degrees of freedom with respect to hand or controller movementsand virtual objects depicted in the VR space. The data correlations andexchanges can enable users to reach out and grasp, touch, or otherwiseinteract with virtual objects in a manner similar to performing suchactions in the physical world.

For example, upon holding a virtual object in one or two locations,users can move the virtual object by rotating, stretching, scaling,twisting, or otherwise manipulating the object using handgestures/interactions common to handling and working with a physicalobject. In some implementations, the virtual object may appear, in theVR space, to be attached to portions of the user (e.g., hands,controllers) to facilitate viewing comprehension, for the user, usinggraphical indications that infer that any movement may move the virtualobject in the same fashion as the hands/controllers move whileperforming additional graphical effects to modify the appearance orbehavior of the virtual object.

Information can be gathered by tracking controller or hand movements inthe VR space. The information can be used to determine which gesture isbeing performed by users. The gesture determination can be used to carryout visual manipulations on the objects in any number of ways.

For example, the systems and methods described in this disclosure cancorrelate movements of a first hand of a user with movements of a secondhand of the user. By way of non-limiting example, if the user moves bothof her hands outward while clenching her fists, the systems describedherein can infer that the user wishes to stretch and/or zoom into avirtual object that the user may be grasping with both hands.

Referring now to FIG. 1 a block diagram is depicted of an example system100 for providing and manipulating 2D and 3D content in a VR space. Ingeneral, the system 100 may provide a 3D VR space and VR content usingthe methods, components, and techniques described herein. In particular,system 100 can provide a user with a number of options in which tomanipulate virtual objects within the VR space.

The example system 100 includes a plurality of computing devices thatcan exchange data over a network 101. The devices may represent clientsor servers and can communicate via network 101, or another network. Insome implementations, the client devices may include one or more gamingdevices or controllers, a mobile device, an electronic tablet, a laptop,a camera, VR glasses, or other such electronic device that may be usedto access VR content.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 includes a mobile device 102, alaptop computing device 104, a VR headset and/or a head mounted display(HMD) device 106, and VR system 108. Devices 102, 104, and 106 mayrepresent client devices. Mobile device 102, computing device 104, andHMD device 106 can include one or more processors and one or more memorydevices. The devices 102-106 can execute a client operating system andone or more client applications that can access, control, and/or displayVR content on a display device included in each respective device, or ina connected device.

The VR system 108 may represent a server device. In general, VR system108 may include any number of repositories storing content and/orvirtual reality software modules that can generate, modify, or executevirtual reality scenes. In the depicted example, VR system 108 includesa VR application 110 that can access and present content and/or controlsfor system 108. In some implementations, VR application 110 can runlocally on one or more of devices 102-106. The VR application 110 can beconfigured to execute on any or all of devices 102, 104, 106, and 108and be controlled or operated upon using controllers 112 or 114, forexample.

Particular implementations described in this disclosure may enable auser to use one or more controllers to interact with the VR space. Forexample, the user can hold a first controller 112 and a secondcontroller 114 to select and manipulate virtual objects in 3D in the VRspace. In some implementations, controllers 112 and 114 may be the samemake and model. In other implementations, controllers 112 and 114 may beof a different make and model. Regardless of the type of controller,both controllers 112 and 114 can be viewed and/or tracked in system 100in order to facilitate interaction in the VR space.

Example controllers 112 and 114 may each include a housing in whichinternal components of the controller device are received, and a userinterface (not shown) on an outside of the housing, accessible to theuser. The user interface may include a plurality of different types ofmanipulation devices (not shown in detail in FIG. 1) including, forexample, touch sensitive surface(s) configured to receive user touchinputs, buttons, knobs, joysticks, toggles, slides and other suchmanipulation devices.

One or more sensors can be included on controllers 112 and/or controller114. The sensors can be triggered to provide input to the VR space, forexample, by users accessing controllers 112 and/or 114 and HMD device106. The sensors can include, but are not limited to, a touchscreensensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, biometricsensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, and ambient lightsensors. The controllers 112 and 114 can use the sensors to determine anabsolute position and/or a detected rotation of controllers 112 and 114in the VR space. The positions and rotations can then be used as inputto the VR space. In one non-limiting example, the controllers 112 and114 may be incorporated into the VR space as a mobile phone, apaintbrush, a pencil or pen, a drawing tool, a controller, a remote, alaser pointer, or other object etc. Positioning of the controllers 112and 114 by the user when incorporated into (or represented within) theVR space can allow the user to position particular virtual objects aswell as to position mobile phone, paintbrush, pencil or pen, drawingtool, controller, remote, laser pointer or other object in the VR space.Such positioning can be used, in some implementations, as a trigger formanipulating objects using anchor points.

The HMD device 106 may represent a virtual reality headset, glasses,eyepiece, or other wearable device capable of displaying virtual realitycontent. In operation, the HMD device 106 can execute a VR application,which can playback received and/or processed images to a user through adisplay (not shown) in the HMD device 106. In some implementations, theVR application 110 can be hosted by one or more of the devices 102, 104,106, or 108, shown in FIG. 1.

In some implementations, the example HMD device 106 may include ahousing coupled to a frame, with an audio output device including, forexample, speakers mounted in headphones. In the example HMD device 106,a display (not shown) may be mounted on an interior facing side of thefront portion of the housing. Lenses may be mounted in the housing,between the user's eyes and the display. In some implementations, theHMD device 106 may include a sensing system 160 including varioussensors such as, for example, audio sensor(s), image/light sensor(s),positional sensors (e.g., inertial measurement unit including gyroscopeand accelerometer), and the like. The HMD device 106 may also include acontrol system including processors and various control system devicesto facilitate operation of the HMD device 106.

In some implementations, the HMD device 106 may include one or morecameras (not shown) to capture still and moving images. The imagescaptured by such cameras may be used to help track a physical positionof the user and/or the controllers 112 or 114 in the real world, orphysical environment relative to the VR space, and/or may be displayedto the user on the display in a pass through mode, allowing the user totemporarily leave the virtual environment and return to the physicalenvironment without removing the HMD device 106 or otherwise changingthe configuration of the HMD device 106.

In some implementations, the mobile device 102 can be placed and/orlocated within the HMD device 106. The mobile device 102 can include adisplay device that can be used as the screen for the HMD device 106.The mobile device 102 can include hardware and/or software for executingthe VR application 110. In some implementations, HMD device 106 canprovide full tracking of location and user movements within six degreesof freedom. The tracking can be based on user hand movements, headmovements, eye movements, or tracking of controllers moving based onuser input.

Additional devices are possible and such devices may be configured to besubstituted for one another. In some implementations, the devices 102,104, 106, and 108 can be laptop or desktop computers, smartphones,personal digital assistants, portable media players, tablet computers,gaming devices, or other appropriate computing devices that cancommunicate, using the network 101, with other computing devices orcomputer systems.

In the example system 100, the HMD device 106 can be connected to device102 or device 104 to access VR content on VR system 108, for example.Device 102 or 104 can be connected (wired or wirelessly) to HMD device106, which can provide VR content for display.

In some implementations, one or more content servers (e.g., VR system108) and one or more computer-readable storage devices can communicatewith the computing devices 102, 104, 106 using network 101 to provide VRcontent to the devices 102-106. In some implementations, the network 101can be a public communications network (e.g., the Internet, cellulardata network, dialup modems over a telephone network) or a privatecommunications network (e.g., private LAN, leased lines). In someimplementations, the computing devices 102-108 can communicate with thenetwork 101 using one or more high-speed wired and/or wirelesscommunications protocols (e.g., 802.11 variations, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Ethernet, IEEE802.3, etc.).

In some implementations, the mobile device 102 can execute the VRapplication 110 and provide the content for the VR environment. In someimplementations, the laptop computing device can execute the VRapplication 110 and can provide content from one or more content servers(e.g., VR system 108). The one or more content servers and one or morecomputer-readable storage devices can communicate with the mobile device102 laptop computing device 104, and/or controller's 112 or 114, usingthe network 101 to provide content for display in HMD device 106.

As shown in FIG. 1, the VR application 110 includes a tracking module116, an orientation module 118, an anchor point generator 120, and asnap to location module 122. The tracking module 116 may access lightsensors, audio sensors, image sensors, distance/proximity sensors,positional sensors and/or other sensors to track a physical position ofthe user and/or the controller 112 or 114 in the real world, or physicalenvironment relative to the virtual environment. The orientation module118 may access any number of memory storage and/or sensors describedherein to determine particular orientations of controllers, users,virtual objects, and areas associated with moving objects within the VRspace.

The anchor point generator 120 may be configured to identify and/ordefine anchor points corresponding to one or more locations in which aparticular virtual object may be scaled or otherwise manipulated. Anchorpoints may pertain to locations and/or orientations in which virtualobjects may be scaled, zoomed in or out, fixed, moved, twisted, tilted,folded, stretched, shrunken, attached, or otherwise manipulated withrespect to one more other or fixed anchor points. The objectmanipulations may be depicted in an HMD device worn by the user as ifthe user were to be holding onto one or more anchor points andmanipulating the virtual object attached to such anchor points. In someimplementations, the anchor points may enable a VR director or user todefine locations associated with manipulations or movements that canchange the shape, orientation, position, and/or scale of a particularvirtual object in the VR space. In general, enabling virtual objectmanipulations with two-hand interactions can includedetermining/defining a number of user-selectable anchor points (e.g.,locations within VR space) in which to base a movement and/ormanipulation of virtual objects.

In some implementations, anchor points may be identified and/or definedas locations in which a particular virtual object is going to be scaled.In some implementations, two anchor points on a virtual object can beused to define a midpoint between both anchor points in whichorientation and scale of the object can be configured according to anaxis or plane associated with the midpoint. Accordingly, anchor pointgenerator 120 may enable a user in a VR space to change position,orientation, and scale of virtual objects at the same time while theuser holds (or otherwise selects) one or more anchor points. The usermay view the holding and changing of position, orientation, and/or scaleof the virtual object as an illusion that displays the one or moreanchor points as fixed on the virtual object while any hand movementsmay cause a scaling or movement of the object in space. Such scaling ormovements can change the shape, orientation, position, and/or scale ofthe virtual object and these changes can be provided in a user interfacein a display of an HMD device.

In some implementations, tracking module 116 and/or orientation module118 can detect multi-touch or multi-hand interactions with virtualobjects. The multi-touch or multi-hand interactions can be interpretedas physical gestures to be carried out on the virtual objects. Forexample, if a user grasps a portion of a virtual object representing atowel with one hand and a portion of the same towel with the other hand,the user can gesture to twist or wring-out the towel and the systems andmethods described herein can show the twisting motion being carried outon the virtual object/towel. Such movements can be performed anddepicted with 6 degrees of freedom of movements.

The snap to location module 122 can be configured to provide a snap tolocation function that allows a user to intuitively select particularareas of a virtual object to fix (or snap) into place, while being ableto stretch or otherwise manipulate other aspects of the virtual object.Module 122 can, for example, detect the angle or position of both handsof a user and determine whether particular angles or positions (withinsix degrees of freedom) trigger a snap to location mode. Snap tolocation module 122 can be configured to implement a 3D snap to locationfunction which allows the user to intuitively select particular areas ofa virtual object to be fixed (or snapped) into place while being able tocarry out virtual object manipulations. The snap to location functioncan be performed by detecting an angle or position of both hands (orcontrollers) associated with a user accessing a VR space and use such adetection with a number of predefined rules about which angles orpositions of the hands (or controllers) trigger snap to location effectsassociated with the virtual objects. Additional examples will bedescribed in detail below.

In some implementations, VR system 108 can extrapolate different one ortwo-handed gestures performed by the user (with hands or controllers)and can apply a predefined or inferred gesture to the virtual object. Inone non-limiting example, if user movement is tracked by tracking module116 and the tracking indicates that the user is grasping a virtualobject and moving both hands in a circular movement to the right, theorientation module 118 can infer that the user wishes to tilt thevirtual object from a first position to a rightward position within theVR space. The movement can trigger the VR system 108 to move the virtualobject, in real time, as the user grasps and turns the virtual objectrightward. Other angles, directions, movements, and manipulations are ofcourse possible and will be described in detail below.

In another non-limiting example, a user accessing a VR environment/spacecan be in a virtual room with framed artwork on the wall. The user maywalk up to a piece of artwork (i.e., which may be a virtual object inthis example) and place her right hand on the lower right corner of theartwork and place her left hand on the lower left corner of the artwork.Once the hands are placed, the orientation module 118 and snap tolocation module 122 can provide additional action possibilities to theuser based on tracking the hands and based on tracking additionalmovements in relation to the artwork (i.e., the virtual object). Forexample, modules 118 and 122 can enable the user to re-shape, deform,shrink, enlarge, or otherwise manipulate the artwork in any directionthat the hands may be moved. In particular, if the user holds the lefthand steady and moves the right hand rightward or downward or in bothdirections, the artwork may be enlarged or stretched in the directioncorresponding to the right hand. In some implementations, this mayinclude manipulating the artwork in three dimensions with six or moredegrees of freedom. For example, the user can work in an x-y-plane toenlarge the artwork such that the artwork would cover additional wallspace rightward and/or downward. Upon completing the enlargement, theuser can pull both hands in an arching motion inward in a z-planedirection to curve the artwork inward in the z-plane direction.Alternatively, pulling both hands toward the user can be interpreted asremoving the artwork from the wall, for example, in preparation formoving the artwork to another wall.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting controllers communicably coupled toan HMD device in a VR space. In operation, system 100 can be configuredto provide a VR space housing any number of virtual objects that can bemanipulated with the devices shown in FIG. 2. The controllers 112 and114 may interface with HMD device 106 to generate an immersive virtualenvironment. The controller 112 and the controller 114 may be pairedwith HMD device 106, for example, to establish communication between thedevices and to facilitate user interaction with the immersive VR space.In some implementations, neither controller 112 and 114 is paired to HMDdevice 106, but each are instead tracked by tracking module 116 in VRapplication 110 or another external tracking device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 112 includes a sensing system 260 anda control system 270. The sensing system 260 may include one or moredifferent types of sensors, including, for example, a light sensor, anaudio sensor, an image sensor, a distance/proximity sensor, a positionalsensor (e.g., an inertial measurement unit (IMU) including a gyroscopeand accelerometer) and/or other sensors and/or different combination(s)of sensors, including, for example, an image sensor positioned to detectand track eye gaze associated with a user. The control system 270 mayinclude, for example, a power/pause control device, audio and videocontrol devices, an optical control device, a transition control device,and/or other such devices and/or different combination(s) of devices.The sensing system 260 and/or the control system 270 may include more,or fewer, devices, depending on a particular implementation.

The controller 112 may also include at least one processor 290 incommunication with the sensing system 260 and the control system 270, amemory 280, and a communication module 250 providing for communicationbetween controller 112 and another, external device, such as, forexample, controller 114 and/or HMD device 106.

Controller 114 may include a communication module 206 providing forcommunication between controller 112 and another, external device, suchas, for example, HMD device 106. In addition to providing for theexchange of data between controller 112 and controller 114, and HMDdevice 106, the communication module 206 may also be configured toconnect and/or communicate with a number of other electronic devices,computers, and/or controllers accessible to the VR space and system 100.

The controller 114 may include a sensing system 204 including an imagesensor and an audio sensor, such as is included in, for example, acamera and microphone, an IMU, a touch sensor such as is included in atouch sensitive surface of a controller, or smartphone, and other suchsensors and/or different combination(s) of sensors. At least oneprocessor 209 may be in communication with the sensing system 204 and acontrol system 205. The control system 205 may have access to a memory208 and can control overall operation of controller 114.

Similar to controller 112, the control system 205 of controller 114 mayinclude, for example, a power/pause control device, audio and videocontrol devices, an optical control device, a transition control device,and/or other such devices and/or different combination(s) of devices. Ingeneral, the systems and methods described in this disclosure can trackuser hands or controllers 112 and 114 and analyze user interactionpatterns and gestures associated with such hands and/or controllers 112and 114 in the VR space to determine the intent of such interactionpatterns and gestures.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate a user accessing a VR space to perform virtualobject manipulations. The example implementation shown in FIGS. 3A-Bwill be described with respect to a user wearing an HMD device thatsubstantially blocks out the ambient environment, so that the HMD devicegenerates a virtual environment, with the user's field of view confinedto the VR space generated by the HMD device. However, the concepts andfeatures described below with respect to FIGS. 3A-B may also be appliedto other types of HMD devices, and other types of virtual realityenvironments and augmented reality environments. In addition, theexamples shown in FIGS. 3A-B include a left side of each figure thatillustrates a third-person view of the user wearing the HMD device 304and holding the controllers 308 and 310, and the right side of eachfigure illustrates a first person view of what may be viewed by the user302 in the virtual environment generated by the HMD device 304. Inparticular, an initial view of the VR space is shown on the top right ofFIGS. 3A-B, while an updated, modified view of the VR space is shown inthe bottom right. In some implementations, controllers 308 and 310 arenot associated with the examples in FIGS. 3A-3B and, instead, trackedfingers, thumbs, hands, feet, head, or other body part can besubstituted for controller input.

In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the user 302 wearing an HMD device 304is facing into a room defining the user's current ambient environment/VRspace (shown by view 306 a), or current real world space. The HMD device304 may capture images and/or collect information defining features inthe VR space. The images and information collected by the HMD device 304(or by one or more controllers 308 or 310) may then be processed by theHMD device 304 to render and display a 3D model of the VR space and anynumber of models of virtual objects. In some implementations, this 3Drendered model of the VR space may be representative of the actualambient environment, but not necessarily be an exact reproduction of theactual ambient environment (as it would be if, for example, a passthrough image from a pass through camera were displayed instead of arendered 3D model image).

The HMD device 304 may process captured images of an environment todefine and/or identify various features for said environment, such as,for example, corners, edges, contours, flat regions, textures, gridlocations, snap to location areas, anchor points, and the like. Fromthese identified features, other characteristics of the environment,such as, for example, a relative area associated with identifiedcharacteristics or objects, an orientation of identified characteristicsor objects (for example, horizontal, vertical, angled), etc.

In some implementations, a previously generated 3D model of a known VRspace may be stored, and the known VR space may be recognized by thesystem. The stored 3D model of the VR space may be accessed for use in anew VR session. In some implementations, the previously stored 3D modelof the known VR space may be accessed as described, and compared to acurrent scan of the VR space, so that the 3D model may be updated toreflect any changes in the known VR space such as, for example, changesin furniture placement, other obstacles in the environment and the likewhich may obstruct the user's movement in the VR space and detract fromthe user's ability to maintain presence. The updated 3D model may thenbe stored for access during a later session.

In the example in FIG. 3A, the user 302 may be accessing the VR spaceand viewing a virtual object, such as globe 312 a in view 306 a.Although user 302 is shown outside of VR space in view 306 a, inoperation, the user 302 may be in the VR space and able to view hishands, arms, body, while interacting with content in the VR space.

At some point, the user 302 can decide to pick up the virtual object(e.g., globe 312 a) by reaching out to connect/collide with portions ofglobe 312 a. For example, the user 302 can reach and place or direct thecontroller 308 at point 314 a and place or direct the controller 310 atpoint 316 a. In a similar fashion, the user may simply use her hands toreach out and connect/collide with portions of globe 312 a. Regardlessof whether the user employs controllers or hands, the system 100 cantrack the movement, orientation, and position of either or both. Thetracking can continue as the user 302 reaches to obtain or otherwisehandle the globe 312 a and during any manipulation of globe 312 a. Forexample, as user 302 places her controllers at 314 a and 314 b, she maybegin to tilt and stretch the globe 312 a by grasping both controllers308 and 310 and moving her left hand to a position shown by controller310 a, the movement of which is indicated by arrows 318 and 320. At thesame time, or shortly before or after moving her left hand, the user canmove her right hand to a position shown by controller 308 a, themovement of which is indicated by arrow 320. Here, the movement is in anoutward motion for both hands indicating to the system 100 that the userwishes to stretch or enlarge the globe 316 a while tilting or rotatingthe globe 312 a sideways. The result of the movements are shown in view306 b. In this example, the user's hands may have ended up at point 314b and 316 b and a resulting updated view 306 b depicts the globe 312 bas larger and tilted in the direction of the movement performed by theuser 302. In operation, the user 302 may view each interim view of themoving globe 312 a until the user stops manipulating the globe and theglobe comes to rest, as shown by view 306 b.

FIG. 3B shows the user 302 making additional modifications to virtualobject/globe 312 b. In this example, the user decided to grab the globe312 b at point 314 c and 316 c and stretch the globe outward, shown byarrow 322, to flatten the globe, as shown at globe 312 c in view 306 c.In this example, the user 302 moved controller 308 a to position shownat controller 308 b while maintaining the position of her controller 310b. Additional manipulations of virtual objects and the surrounding VRspace can be performed.

In some implementations, the controllers 308 a and 310 b, and in someinstances, also the user's hands, may be detected, and the movement ofthe detected controllers (and hands) may be tracked by the system 100.This may allow an image of the detected controllers 308 a and 310 b (andhands) to be rendered as the controllers move toward the globe.

In some implementations, the systems and methods described in thisdisclosure provide a snap to location function that allows a user tointuitively select particular areas of a virtual object to fix (or snap)into place, while being able to stretch or otherwise manipulate otheraspects of the virtual object. The system 100 can, for example, detectthe angle or position of both hands of a user and determine whetherparticular angles or positions (within six degrees of freedom) trigger asnap to location mode. For example, if the system 100 detects each handis position with both thumbs pointing inward while holding a virtualobject, an inference can be made to snap to location the portion of thevirtual object on a side opposite the placement of the hands on theobject. The inference may be obtained by obtaining particular detailsabout the object and detecting particular gestures performed by the userwhile hand tracking. Similarly, if the user is holding a controller orone controller in each hand, the system 100 can obtain similarinformation by tracking the gestures performed using the controllers.

In one non-limiting example, a user accessing a VR space can pick up athree-dimensional virtual object with one or both hands and can move theobject in any manner to select one of many ways in which to orient theobject while using both hands (or controllers) to snap to location bygesturing in a specific way. One example gesture may include holdingboth hands (or both controllers) in parallel while rotating and scalingthe object. The parallel gesture may indicate that the user wishes tofix a center of the virtual object while rotating the object about thecenter point during an operation/gesture performed by the user's hands(or controllers) to shrink or stretch the object. In someimplementations, system 100 can select one or more properties of thevirtual object in which to change based on any combination of usergesture, hand/controller tracking, and/or predefined object properties.

In some implementations, the system 100 can determine which direction anobject is held by a left and right hand of the user. For example, thetracking module 116 can detect a position of each hand while theorientation module 118 can detect the orientation of each hand. Suchinformation can be used by the anchor point generator 120 to generateone or more anchor points in which to move the object about. If aparticular orientation or gesture is detected, the snap to locationmodule 122 can fix a portion of the object to a location in the VRspace. For example, if the system 100 detects that the fingers of theuser are all facing each other, a single axis running parallel to thehands may be selected for rotations, snap to locations, growth orshrinkage along the selected axis, or along a particular dimension orplane with respect to the selected axis.

The following non-limiting examples can be performed by system 100 inresponse to user gestures being detected in a VR space. Such gesturescan be associated with any number of coordinate systems, grids, or othermetrics that can be applied to virtual objects. In some implementations,the snap to location module 122 can calculate particular objectcoordinates by rounding a location of a virtual object to a nearest gridlocation.

In some implementations, the anchor point generator 120 can configureany number of anchor points on a virtual object. The snap to locationmodule 122 can use such anchor points to define snap locations on thevirtual object. In one non-limiting example, the snap to location module122 can use defined anchor points to snap virtual object rotations to90-degree orientations. For example, module 122 can define up totwenty-four 90-degree, snap to location orientations for a particularvirtual object. Such a definition may allow for six degrees of freedomof control during object movements that are snapped to locations.

In some implementations, the snap to location module 122 can invoke ahysteresis snap function in which the system 100 can track user movementwith respect to a virtual object to determine when a particular boundaryis crossed. When the boundary is crossed, the snap to location module122 can snap the object to a location configured for the virtual object.In general, the snap to location module 122 can define or retrieve aparticular geometry of a 3D virtual object and can define one or moresnap centers. The snap centers may be snapping frames that define acoordinate system with a translation (3D) and a rotation (quaternion).

In a non-limiting example, a user accessing VR space may begin to grasponto or otherwise interact with a virtual object with a hand in a firstlocation on the virtual object. The system 100 can define the firstlocation in 3D space by defining a quaternion representing orientationsand rotations of the virtual object. In particular, a forward axis canhave a rotation component that defines how the virtual object rotatesaround the forward axis. Such a definition can fix (or constrain) theother two axes. When the user grasps or touches a second location on thevirtual object, the system 100 can define a rotation path around thedefined first location according to the constrained axes. In anotherexample, if the user grasps or touches the first location (i.e., anchorpoint) and the second location (i.e., anchor point) on the object, thesystem 100 may simply define constraints using a vector generatedbetween both anchor points of the object as the axis to be constrainedand the axis can be used as a basis to freely rotate the virtual objectaround.

The anchor point generator 120 and/or the snap to location module 122can use snapping frames to implement a number of steps to enable snapfunctions including, but not limited to, a hysteresis snap function fora virtual object. The steps may include determining a longest componentof a particular forward facing vector (e.g. unit vector) with respect toa frame defined on the object. Such a frame may be configured withcoordinates and locations in which snapping of portions of virtualobjects can be invoked. The snap to location module 122 can assign thedetermined longest component of the vector as one while the two othercomponents of the vector may be assigned to zero. Next, the module 122can determine a longest component of a right vector (e.g., unit vector)associated with the frame and can assign that vector to one, whilesetting the other associated vectors to zero. Upon assigning both of theabove vectors, the snap to grid module 122 can calculate a third vectorfrom the cross product of the first two vectors, thus determining a newsnap quaternion in which to allow snap to location activity by a user.In some implementations, the hysteresis option for this method may beobtained through defining a certain length threshold for the vector tocross before snapping, rather than defining the longest component.

The quaternion definitions above can be used to allow a user to interactwith virtual objects in the VR space in a way to allow snapping (e.g.,fixing) objects to locations within the VR space. For example, avertical and horizontal centerline can be preconfigured for a virtualobject, such as a shelf. If one or both controllers or hands handlingthe object crosses from front to back, back to front, or side to sideacross any of the centerlines, the system 100 may infer that the userwishes to connect or remove the shelf from a virtual wall, for example,and may provide visual indicators on the virtual object (e.g., shelf) tosignal to the user that the object can be snapped to a location along aline or area of visual indicators.

In some implementations, a virtual object may be shown in the VR spaceas snapped into place at a particular location, while a transparentoutline (i.e., or other visually distinguished graphical effect) of thevirtual object may be shown to enable the user to better understand thestate VR space with respect to a movable virtual object. This caninclude depicting snapped virtual objects as similarly shaped unsnappedobjects in a visually distinctive way to enable the user to understandthat the snapped object may be unsnapped in a particular way.

In one example, the system 100 can define particular portions of virtualobjects and/or anchor points associated with virtual objects with visualindicators. The indicator may be graphically provided in the VR space,for example, a transparent ball or a transparent ray intersecting theobject. These visual indicators may be mechanisms providing visualfeedback so that the user can trigger an object to be selected orinteracted upon. For example, if the user reaches toward a virtualobject and grasps the object, the system 100 can detect this and providea visual indicator indicating to the user that she has triggered theobject to be manipulated in some fashion. The detection can be performedby the tracking module 116, for example. Once the trigger occurs, theuser may drag or move the object as well as scale and rotate the objectaccording to the anchor points defined on the object. Thus, when theuser changes an orientation or position of her hand (or controller), thevirtual object can follow suit and be modified according to the changedorientation or position. In addition, while changing orientation,position, or both, the user can use her hands (or controller) to changea scale of the virtual object.

In some implementations, the snap to grid module 122 can enable snappingvirtual objects using bounding boxes to allow for translations. Suchtranslations can include eight translation anchor points of athree-dimensional virtual object, for example. In particular, the VRspace and/or virtual objects can be defined with anchor points thatallow for translation and snap to location against a grid or against anadjacent bounding box/anchor point of another virtual object. Athreshold may be defined to determine a distance in which to auto-engageone bounding box point to another bounding box point (e.g., one anchorpoint to another anchor point). For example, module 122 can beconfigured to auto-snap particular anchor points according to a minimumdistance between two converging anchor points. The anchor points maybegin to converge, for example, if a user brings two virtual objects ortwo anchor points on the same virtual object close together. The minimumcloseness before a snap occurs may be defined by the minimum distance.

Besides defining snap locations on boundaries of virtual objects (e.g.,on bounding boxes), the snap to location module 122 can define a numberof snapping locations inside virtual objects. For example, FIG. 4illustrates an example rectangular piece of floor 402 with a pipe end404 protruding from the floor 402. In the center of the pipe end 404 asnapping frame 406 is shown. The snapping frame 406 is configured toenable a snapping of pipe modules, such as module 408. Pipe module 408includes another snapping frame 410 in which to indicate to a user thatthe snapping frame 406 can be snapped to another component. In someimplementations, snapping to a particular frame, grid, point, anchorpoint, etc. can be used to also define an origin in which to scale orrotate a virtual object. In the example in FIG. 4, a pipe 408 can besnapped to snapping frame 406 and then scaled or rotated inward in anydirection.

In some implementations, the snap to location module 122 can enablesnapping multiple points on one or more virtual objects at the sametime. Such snapping points may be configured to be connected along aseam, edge, or other boundary in response to the system 100 detectingthat one snapping point in any number of correlated snapping points hasbeen connected together by a user, for example.

In general, a snapping frame can take on any shape, size, or area withina coordinate system corresponding to virtual objects or virtual spacesurrounding virtual objects. The frame may be defined and associatedwith the VR space, particular users, particular virtual objects, orparticular boundaries within the VR space or users accessing the VRspace.

In another example, the snap to location module 122 can be used todefine particular attraction points or magnetized-like points in whichto snap together anchor points from a number of different virtualobjects. In one non-limiting example, a first corner of a rectangulartile with four corners may be snapped to another corner of anotherrectangular tile with four corners based on a defined attraction betweenthe corners of each respective object. Additional attraction points canbe defined and such points may be defined by one or more point arrangedin any shape.

FIGS. 5A-C illustrate examples of a user accessing a VR space to performvirtual object manipulations. In general, the system 100 can analyzeuser interactions in the VR space to determine how to manipulate aparticular virtual object based on detected user interactions. Thedetermination can be used to provide the user with a response that isdirected to a desired object manipulation requested by the user via thedetected user interaction/gesture. For example, when the user attemptsto grasp (e.g., reaches for) a virtual object with her hand, the handbegins to approach a user interface surface that can react in a numberof different ways. The system 100 can determine which (VR space-based)reaction matches the intent for the user and can react according toinformation associated with properties of the virtual objects and the VRspace.

In one non-limiting example in FIG. 5A, a VR space 500A is shown with auser 502 interacting with a number of virtual objects. In particular,the user 502 grasps his first hand 504 and his second hand 506 onto twopoints of virtual shelf 508. The two-handed grasp may begin to triggerfeatures associated with the virtual shelf 508 a. For example, thesystem 100 can determine that the two-handed grasp on one side of theshelf indicates that the user may wish to attach an opposite end of theshelf to existing objects in the VR space. For example, the system 100can infer that tracked hand 504 intends to interact with virtual shelf508 a, while determining that tracked hand 506 is grasping shelf 508 todo the same. The two-handed grasping may additionally trigger one ormore graphical indicators to communicate to the user one or more ways tomodify or move particular virtual objects. For example, visual indicator510 may be displayed upon detecting the two-handed grasp on virtualshelf 508 a. The indicator 510 shows that the shelf may be attachable towall space 512. In some implementations, other visual and/or audioindicators and actions can be depicted to alert the user to possibleinteraction in the VR space. In operation, the system 100 can wait todetect additional gestures or movements performed by the user and canimplement graphical object changes to content in the VR space accordingto the gestures or movements.

In the depicted example, the user may move his right hand 506 upward andhis left hand 504 downward, as shown by arrow 514, which can begin tomove shelf 508 a into position to be mounted on wall 512 in location510, or another location along wall 512, since location 510 is simply agraphical indicator for notifying the user of an activity of placing theshelf on the wall.

In some implementations, the system 100 can infer that tracked hand 504intends to interact with virtual shelf 508, while determining thattracked hand 506 is grasping shelf 508 a in a same plane. If the system100 detects that both hands (or both controllers if the user were usingcontrollers) are in the same axis or plane of reference, the system 100can trigger a uniform scaling mode to uniformly move and/or scale avirtual object. In the depicted example of FIG. 5B, the user 502 graspsvirtual shelf 508 a (from FIG. 5A) with both hands 504 and 506 in thesame plane. In response, the system 100 may trigger the uniform scalingmode and allow the user to begin scaling the virtual shelf 508 a intothe shelf shown at shelf 508 b, according to user-performed gestures,indicated by arrows 514 and 516. In particular, the system 100 candetermine, based on tracked user movements, that the user wishes touniformly scale/stretch shelf 508 a to obtain shelf size shown by shelf508 b. The user movement indicated by arrow 516 shows an upward stretchof the shelf, which triggers a uniform growth of the entire shelf towardwall 518 as well. In addition, a rotation is performed at the same timeas the scaling, as indicated by arrow 514 showing the right hand 506 ofthe user twisting upward. Visual, audio, or tactile indicators can beprovided to communicate to the user that a particular mode has beentriggered. For example, indicator 520 may indicate triggering of uniformscaling mode.

Referring to FIG. 5C, another example is shown in which user 502 ishandling virtual shelf 508 c. In this example, the system 100 canidentify tracked hands or controllers, virtual objects, and propertiesof such objects. One example property of a virtual object may includedefined anchor points in which to use snap to location functionality forobjects and content within the VR space. Here, the system 100 mayidentify one or more anchor points on virtual shelf 508 c. The anchorpoints can be used to indicate to the user whether any snapping pointsare within range of the virtual shelf 508 c. As shown, the system 100detects that shelf 508 c includes two anchor points that may naturallyfit with two other anchor points on corners associated with shelfportion 522. In particular, visual indicators 524 and 526 can be shownto let the user understand that a snap to location function isavailable. The indicators may, for example, become visible upondetecting that the virtual shelf 508 c is approaching shelf portion 522based on a user-performed action involving the virtual shelf 508 c.

In a similar fashion, anchor points may be visually depicted near shelf528 to indicate that additional shelf components can be added to shelf528. Such visual indicators may not be provided to the user until theuser approaches the wall 518 and falls within a predefined proximity orperimeter around shelf 528, for example. Additional details regardingsnap to location is described above.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart diagramming one embodiment of a process 600 toenable a user to manipulate content in a VR space. At block 602, thesystem 100 can generate a virtual environment including at least onethree-dimensional virtual object within a user interface provided in ahead mounted display device. For example, VR system 108 can generate aVR space with any number of virtual objects that can be manipulated byuser hand movements or controller movements. The system 108 can generaterepresentations of users, objects, and controllers, and can track suchthings for translation into the VR space based on movements and gesturescarried out in the physical world.

At block 604, the system 100 can detect a first interaction pattern. Forexample, a user accessing controllers 112 or 114 can provide input inthe form of a first interaction pattern such as actually grasping onto avirtual object or simulating grasping using a controller 112 or 114. Insome implementations, the first interaction pattern is performed with ausers hand, arm, eye gaze, leg, foot, or other part capable oftriggering interaction in the VR space. The placement and direction ofthe grasp may be detected as a pattern indicating an intent to modify afirst virtual feature associated with the three-dimensional virtualobject being grasped. For example, the pattern may be a grasp and pullto bring the virtual object closer the user. In some implementations,the first interaction pattern defines a location in which to beginmodifying the first virtual feature, the second interaction patterndefines a direction and orientation away from the second virtualfeature, and the modified version of the three-dimensional virtualobject includes a scaled version of the three-dimensional virtualobject. In some implementations, the scaled version may be scaled fromthe first virtual feature toward the second virtual feature. Scaling canbe carried out by device 104, device 108, or other device cable ofmodifying virtual content in the VR space in response to receivingmovement input.

In some implementations, detecting the first interaction pattern mayinclude detecting a first input associated with a first tracked deviceand detecting the second interaction pattern includes detecting a secondinput associated with a second tracked device. In particular, the firsttracked device may be controller 112 while the second tracked device maybe controller 114.

At block 606, the system 100 can detect a second interaction patternsuch as a second hand or controller-based grasp onto the virtual object.The second interaction pattern may include an orientation and movementcorresponding to a modification to be performed on a second virtualfeature associated with the three-dimensional virtual object. Forexample, the second interaction pattern may include grasping the virtualobject at a second location and the pattern may be a twist, a rotation,a pulling, a pushing, or other object-manipulating movement. Similardevices or user body parts can be used to perform the second interactionpattern.

In response to detecting the second interaction pattern, the system 100,at block 608 can generate a modified version of the three-dimensionalvirtual object at the first virtual feature according to the firstinteraction pattern and at the second virtual feature according to thesecond interaction pattern. For example, the system 100 can carry outthe user received interactions based on grasp locations, object details,etc.

At block 610, the system 100 can provide in the user interface in thehead mounted display device, the modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object. In some implementations, the modifiedversion of the three-dimensional virtual object is generated andrendered in the virtual environment while the movement occurs. In someimplementations, the modified version of the three-dimensional virtualobject is adjusted from the first virtual feature to a new position,orientation, and scale of the three-dimensional virtual object andadjusted from the second virtual feature to a new position, orientation,and scale of the three-dimension virtual object. The modified versionmay be displayed within a user field of view in the virtual environment.In general, the modifications can be carried out by VR system 108 withinVR application 110 base on detected input from other hardware interfacedto system 108 and/or application 110.

In some implementations, generating a modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object at the first virtual feature accordingto the first interaction pattern and at the second virtual featureaccording to the second interaction pattern may include stretching andtwisting the three-dimensional virtual object. For example, thestretching include defining a first anchor point and a second anchorpoint on the three-dimensional virtual object and stretching in a planeformed between the first anchor point and the second anchor point. Insome implementations, twisting the three-dimensional virtual objectincludes rotating the three-dimensional virtual object in 3D space atthe first virtual feature in a first input plane and rotating thethree-dimensional virtual object includes rotating the three-dimensionalvirtual object in 3D space at the second virtual feature from a secondinput plane to a third input plane. In general, the first input planemay correspond to an x-y coordinate plane, the second input plane maycorrespond to a y-z coordinate plane, and the third input plane maycorrespond to an x-z coordinate plane. Each plane may be athree-dimensional coordinate space.

In some implementations, the process 600 may include generating a firstintersection point at the first virtual feature based at least in parton detecting a first tracked hand movement performed by a left hand ofthe user accessing the virtual environment. For example, if the userreaches with his left hand to grasp a virtual object in the VR space,the system 100 can determine an intersection of the hand and the virtualobject and can generate an intersection point. The intersection pointmay be shown, or otherwise indicated (e.g., audio feedback, tactilefeedback, etc.) on the virtual object. In some implementations, theintersection point is calculated for use in other calculations andoperations that the user may perform on the virtual object. Similarly,the system 100 can generate a second intersection point at a secondvirtual feature, based at least in part on detecting a second trackedhand movement performed by a right hand of the user accessing a VRspace. For example, the second tracked hand movement may pertain to theuser grasping the same virtual object that his left hand is grasping.After both intersection points are generated, the system 100 can modifythe three-dimensional virtual object according to the first and secondinteraction patterns. The modifications may be being based at least inpart on determining that at least one gesture performed in the first orsecond tracked hand movement is a change in orientation associated withthe three-dimensional virtual object. The system 100 can then performthe at least one gesture while modifying the three-dimensional objectaccording to another gesture. For example, the system 100 can execute arotational change on the virtual object while also changing thelocation, size, and/or shape of the virtual object, in the event thatthe user input (e.g., hand motions, gestures, controller gestures)indicates to do so.

In some implementations, process 600 can include generating an anchorpoint configured to freeze, in three-dimensional space, a portion of thethree-dimensional virtual object, at the first intersection point whilemodifying the three-dimensional object at the second virtual featureaccording to the second interaction pattern. For example, the system 100can freeze or isolate a portion of the virtual object in order to affixthe object at the portion while changing other portions of the object.The changes can pertain to shape, scale, orientation, for example. Thisfeature can function to hold a portion of the virtual object in placewhile the user interacts with one or both hands to carry out othervisual changes or effects on the object.

In some implementations, generating an anchor point includes defining atleast one location on the three-dimensional virtual object as aselectable scaling location. The selectable scaling location may beoperable to receive a user-initiated input, that includes at least onegesture indicating instructions for scaling the three-dimensionalvirtual object.

In some implementations, the process 600 may include enabling a uniformscaling mode in response to detecting that the first interaction patternis performed in the same axis of the three dimensions as the secondinteraction pattern. The uniform scaling mode may be configured to scalethe three-dimensional virtual object evenly in three dimensionsaccording to the first and second interaction patterns.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart diagramming one embodiment of a process 700 tomodify 3D image content in a VR space. At block 702, the system 100 candetect, in a three-dimensional virtual environment, a first interactionpattern performed by a first electronic device. The electronic devicemay be, for example, a controller, or a mobile device, and the like. Thefirst interaction pattern may include an indication to modify a firstvirtual feature associated with a three-dimensional virtual objectrendered in the virtual environment. The virtual feature may pertain toany or all portions of the virtual object and/or portions of theenvironment surrounding the virtual object. Similar to process 600,devices may pertain to controllers 112 or 114, mobile device 102 orother detectable and trackable device configured for use in a VR space.

At block 704, the process 700 can detect, in the three-dimensionalvirtual environment, a second interaction pattern performed by a secondelectronic device. The second electronic device may be a similar ordifferent device type than the first electronic device. The secondinteraction pattern may include an orientation and movementcorresponding to a modification to be performed on a second virtualfeature associated with the three-dimensional virtual object. Forexample, the second interaction pattern may be a twist and tilt, aswivel, a full circle, a panning around, or other gesture performable bya user wielding an electronic device.

In response to detecting the second interaction pattern, the process 700can include, at block 706, generating a modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object at the first virtual feature accordingto the first interaction pattern and at the second virtual featureaccording to the second interaction pattern. For example, system 100 cancarry out one or more gestures on the virtual object in order togenerate the modified version of the object.

At block 708, the system 100 can render, in a user interface of a headmounted display device, the modified version of the three-dimensionalvirtual object according to the detected first interaction pattern andthe detected second interaction pattern. The rendering can be performedas the modifications are performed on the object. Accordingly, the usercan view his input as the modifications to the virtual device arecarried out based on interaction pattern movements made by hands(controllers).

In some implementations, the process 700 may include enabling a uniformscaling mode in response to detecting that the first electronic deviceis oriented to face the second electronic device. For example, system100 can detect that any of the tracked controllers, hands, fingers,thumbs are aligned to trigger the uniform scaling mode. Such a mode maybe a scaling mode configured to scale the three-dimensional virtualobject evenly in three dimensions according to the detected firstinteraction pattern and the detected second interaction pattern. In someimplementations, all six degrees of freedom may be enabled with thisfeature.

In general, detecting that the first electronic device is oriented toface the second electronic device may include detecting an initialposition and orientation of the second electronic device relative to thefirst electronic device, tracking at least one gesture performed by thesecond electronic device relative to the first electronic device, anddetecting an alignment of the second electronic device to the firstelectronic device. Detecting the alignment may include performing acomparison of the initial position and orientation of the secondelectronic device relative to the first electronic device with adetected updated position and orientation of the first or the secondelectronic device. The detected updated position may be based on the atleast one gesture.

In some implementations, generating a modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object at the first virtual feature includesproviding a visual indication, in the virtual environment and affixed tothe three-dimensional virtual object. The visual indication may includeone or more anchor points defining snapping frames. The snapping framesmay be configured to select at least one coordinate system in which totranslate and rotate the virtual object in three dimensions.

In some implementations, the process 700 can include defining a rotationpath to rotate the three-dimensional virtual object around a locationassociated with the first virtual feature in response to detecting thesecond interaction pattern. For example, system 100 can track and detecta rotational movement indicated by the second interaction pattern andcan define a path in which to rotate the virtual object. Such a path maybe visually indicated or simply affixed to the virtual object as aproperty that can be illustrated should the user perform a particularrotational gesture.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart diagramming one embodiment of a process 800 togenerate a model of a virtual object. At block 802, the process 800 caninclude obtaining, with one or more optical sensors of a computingdevice, feature information about a virtual object. For example, thesystem 100 can obtain features/characteristics associated with thevirtual object include one or more of a planarity, a dimension, an area,an orientation, a corner, a boundary, a contour or a surface texture forthe virtual object.

At block 804, the process 800 includes generating, by a processor of thecomputing device, a three-dimensional virtual model of the virtualobject based on the plurality of characteristics. The virtual model maybe defined to define the virtual object, but can also be defined interms of interpretation of determining how to modify the objectaccording to possible user input/gestures. The three-dimensional virtualmodel can be generated by VR system 108 and VR application 110.

At block 806, the process 800 includes processing, by the processor, theplurality of characteristics and the three-dimensional virtual model todefine a plurality of anchor points in the three-dimensional virtualmodel. The plurality of anchor points may be respectively associatedwith a plurality of selectable regions on the virtual object. Asdescribed in detail above, anchor points may pertain to selectableportions of the virtual object, connectable portions of the virtualobject, and or definitions as to planes of movement.

At block 808, the process 800 includes correlating the input for eachregion in the plurality of regions, in response to receiving an inputselecting at least two of the plurality of regions. The correlation ofthe at least two inputs can be used to properly modify the virtualobject. The VR system 108 may access any number of servers and/orprocessors to perform calculations for correlating particular input toparticular regions.

At block 810, the process 800 includes modifying a size and orientationof the virtual object, based on the correlation and on the plurality ofcharacteristics associated with the virtual object. At block 812, theprocess 800 includes rendering and displaying a modified virtual objectin the three-dimensional virtual model. In some implementations, theprocess 800 can include generating a virtual reality environmentincluding the three dimensional virtual model of the virtual object inthe virtual reality environment.

In some implementations, the process 800 may include automaticallyscaling the virtual object while rotating the virtual object in threedimensions in the generated virtual reality environment based on atwo-hand interaction performed by a user and detected plurality ofcharacteristics associated with the virtual object. Such automaticscaling during rotation can be provided using calculated vectors, asdescribed in detail above.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a generic computer device 900 and a genericmobile computer device 950, which may be used with the techniquesdescribed here. Computing device 900 includes a processor 902, memory904, a storage device 906, a high-speed interface 908 connecting tomemory 904 and high-speed expansion ports 910, and a low speed interface912 connecting to low speed bus 914 and storage device 906. Each of thecomponents 902, 904, 906, 908, 910, and 912, are interconnected usingvarious busses, and may be mounted on a common motherboard or in othermanners as appropriate. The processor 902 can process instructions forexecution within the computing device 900, including instructions storedin the memory 904 or on the storage device 906 to display graphicalinformation for a GUI on an external input/output device, such asdisplay 916 coupled to high speed interface 908. In otherimplementations, multiple processors and/or multiple buses may be used,as appropriate, along with multiple memories and types of memory. Inaddition, multiple computing devices 900 may be connected, with eachdevice providing portions of the necessary operations (e.g., as a serverbank, a group of blade servers, or a multi-processor system).

The memory 904 stores information within the computing device 900. Inone implementation, the memory 904 is a volatile memory unit or units.In another implementation, the memory 904 is a non-volatile memory unitor units. The memory 904 may also be another form of computer-readablemedium, such as a magnetic or optical disk.

The storage device 906 is capable of providing mass storage for thecomputing device 900. In one implementation, the storage device 906 maybe or contain a computer-readable medium, such as a floppy disk device,a hard disk device, an optical disk device, or a tape device, a flashmemory or other similar solid state memory device, or an array ofdevices, including devices in a storage area network or otherconfigurations. A computer program product can be tangibly embodied inan information carrier. The computer program product may also containinstructions that, when executed, perform one or more methods, such asthose described above. The information carrier is a computer- ormachine-readable medium, such as the memory 904, the storage device 906,or memory on processor 902.

The high speed controller 908 manages bandwidth-intensive operations forthe computing device 900, while the low speed controller 912 manageslower bandwidth-intensive operations. Such allocation of functions isexemplary only. In one implementation, the high-speed controller 908 iscoupled to memory 904, display 916 (e.g., through a graphics processoror accelerator), and to high-speed expansion ports 910, which may acceptvarious expansion cards (not shown). In the implementation, low-speedcontroller 912 is coupled to storage device 906 and low-speed expansionport 914. The low-speed expansion port, which may include variouscommunication ports (e.g., USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet, wireless Ethernet)may be coupled to one or more input/output devices, such as a keyboard,a pointing device, a scanner, or a networking device such as a switch orrouter, e.g., through a network adapter.

The computing device 900 may be implemented in a number of differentforms, as shown in the figure. For example, it may be implemented as astandard server 920, or multiple times in a group of such servers. Itmay also be implemented as part of a rack server system 924. Inaddition, it may be implemented in a personal computer such as a laptopcomputer 922. Alternatively, components from computing device 900 may becombined with other components in a mobile device (not shown), such asdevice 950. Each of such devices may contain one or more of computingdevice 900, 950, and an entire system may be made up of multiplecomputing devices 900, 950 communicating with each other.

Computing device 950 includes a processor 952, memory 964, aninput/output device such as a display 954, a communication interface966, and a transceiver 968, among other components. The device 950 mayalso be provided with a storage device, such as a microdrive or otherdevice, to provide additional storage. Each of the components 950, 952,964, 954, 966, and 968, are interconnected using various buses, andseveral of the components may be mounted on a common motherboard or inother manners as appropriate.

The processor 952 can execute instructions within the computing device950, including instructions stored in the memory 964. The processor maybe implemented as a chipset of chips that include separate and multipleanalog and digital processors. The processor may provide, for example,for coordination of the other components of the device 950, such ascontrol of user interfaces, applications run by device 950, and wirelesscommunication by device 950.

Processor 952 may communicate with a user through control interface 958and display interface 956 coupled to a display 954. The display 954 maybe, for example, a TFT LCD (Thin-Film-Transistor Liquid Crystal Display)or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display, or other appropriatedisplay technology. The display interface 956 may comprise appropriatecircuitry for driving the display 954 to present graphical and otherinformation to a user. The control interface 958 may receive commandsfrom a user and convert them for submission to the processor 952. Inaddition, an external interface 962 may be provide in communication withprocessor 952, so as to enable near area communication of device 950with other devices. External interface 962 may provide, for example, forwired communication in some implementations, or for wirelesscommunication in other implementations, and multiple interfaces may alsobe used.

The memory 964 stores information within the computing device 950. Thememory 964 can be implemented as one or more of a computer-readablemedium or media, a volatile memory unit or units, or a non-volatilememory unit or units. Expansion memory 974 may also be provided andconnected to device 950 through expansion interface 972, which mayinclude, for example, a SIMM (Single In Line Memory Module) cardinterface. Such expansion memory 974 may provide extra storage space fordevice 950, or may also store applications or other information fordevice 950. Specifically, expansion memory 974 may include instructionsto carry out or supplement the processes described above, and mayinclude secure information also. Thus, for example, expansion memory 974may be provide as a security module for device 950, and may beprogrammed with instructions that permit secure use of device 950. Inaddition, secure applications may be provided via the SIMM cards, alongwith additional information, such as placing identifying information onthe SIMM card in a non-hackable manner.

The memory may include, for example, flash memory and/or NVRAM memory,as discussed below. In one implementation, a computer program product istangibly embodied in an information carrier. The computer programproduct contains instructions that, when executed, perform one or moremethods, such as those described above. The information carrier is acomputer- or machine-readable medium, such as the memory 964, expansionmemory 974, or memory on processor 952, that may be received, forexample, over transceiver 968 or external interface 962.

Device 950 may communicate wirelessly through communication interface966, which may include digital signal processing circuitry wherenecessary. Communication interface 966 may provide for communicationsunder various modes or protocols, such as GSM voice calls, SMS, EMS, orMMS messaging, CDMA, TDMA, PDC, WCDMA, CDMA2000, or GPRS, among others.Such communication may occur, for example, through radio-frequencytransceiver 968. In addition, short-range communication may occur, suchas using a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other such transceiver (not shown). Inaddition, GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver module 970 mayprovide additional navigation- and location-related wireless data todevice 950, which may be used as appropriate by applications running ondevice 950.

Device 950 may also communicate audibly using audio codec 960, which mayreceive spoken information from a user and convert it to usable digitalinformation. Audio codec 960 may likewise generate audible sound for auser, such as through a speaker, e.g., in a handset of device 950. Suchsound may include sound from voice telephone calls, may include recordedsound (e.g., voice messages, music files, etc.) and may also includesound generated by applications operating on device 950.

The computing device 950 may be implemented in a number of differentforms, as shown in the figure. For example, it may be implemented as acellular telephone 980. It may also be implemented as part of a smartphone 982, personal digital assistant, or other similar mobile device.

Various implementations of the systems and techniques described here canbe realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry,specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits),computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof.These various implementations can include implementation in one or morecomputer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on aprogrammable system including at least one programmable processor, whichmay be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data andinstructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storagesystem, at least one input device, and at least one output device.

These computer programs (also known as programs, software, softwareapplications or code) include machine instructions for a programmableprocessor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural and/orobject-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machinelanguage. As used herein, the terms “machine-readable medium”“computer-readable medium” refers to any computer program product,apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory,Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructionsand/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readablemedium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal.The term “machine-readable signal” refers to any signal used to providemachine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor.

To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniquesdescribed here can be implemented on a computer having a display device(e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor)for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointingdevice (e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user can provideinput to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide forinteraction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to theuser can be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback,auditory feedback, or tactile feedback); and input from the user can bereceived in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

The systems and techniques described here can be implemented in acomputing system that includes a back end component (e.g., as a dataserver), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an applicationserver), or that includes a front end component (e.g., a client computerhaving a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a usercan interact with an implementation of the systems and techniquesdescribed here), or any combination of such back end, middleware, orfront end components. The components of the system can be interconnectedby any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., acommunication network). Examples of communication networks include alocal area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), and theInternet.

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

In some implementations, the computing devices depicted in FIG. 9 caninclude sensors that interface with a virtual reality (VR headset 990).For example, one or more sensors included on a computing device 950 orother computing device depicted in FIG. 9, can provide input to VRheadset 990 or in general, provide input to a VR space. The sensors caninclude, but are not limited to, a touchscreen, accelerometers,gyroscopes, pressure sensors, biometric sensors, temperature sensors,humidity sensors, and ambient light sensors. The computing device 950can use the sensors to determine an absolute position and/or a detectedrotation of the computing device in the VR space that can then be usedas input to the VR space. For example, the computing device 950 may beincorporated into the VR space as a virtual object, such as acontroller, a laser pointer, a keyboard, a weapon, etc. Positioning ofthe computing device/virtual object by the user when incorporated intothe VR space can allow the user to position the computing device to viewthe virtual object in certain manners in the VR space. For example, ifthe virtual object represents a laser pointer, the user can manipulatethe computing device as if it were an actual laser pointer. The user canmove the computing device left and right, up and down, in a circle,etc., and use the device in a similar fashion to using a laser pointer.

In some implementations, one or more input devices included on, orconnect to, the computing device 950 can be used as input to the VRspace. The input devices can include, but are not limited to, atouchscreen, a keyboard, one or more buttons, a trackpad, a touchpad, apointing device, a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, a camera, amicrophone, earphones or buds with input functionality, a gamingcontroller, or other connectable input device. A user interacting withan input device included on the computing device 950 when the computingdevice is incorporated into the VR space can cause a particular actionto occur in the VR space.

In some implementations, a touchscreen of the computing device 950 canbe rendered as a touchpad in VR space. A user can interact with thetouchscreen of the computing device 950. The interactions are rendered,in VR headset 990 for example, as movements on the rendered touchpad inthe VR space. The rendered movements can control objects in the VRspace.

In some implementations, one or more output devices included on thecomputing device 950 can provide output and/or feedback to a user of theVR headset 990 in the VR space. The output and feedback can be visual,tactical, or audio. The output and/or feedback can include, but is notlimited to, vibrations, turning on and off or blinking and/or flashingof one or more lights or strobes, sounding an alarm, playing a chime,playing a song, and playing of an audio file. The output devices caninclude, but are not limited to, vibration motors, vibration coils,piezoelectric devices, electrostatic devices, light emitting diodes(LEDs), strobes, and speakers.

In some implementations, the computing device 950 may appear as anotherobject in a computer-generated, 3D environment. Interactions by the userwith the computing device 950 (e.g., rotating, shaking, touching atouchscreen, swiping a finger across a touch screen) can be interpretedas interactions with the object in the VR space. In the example of thelaser pointer in a VR space, the computing device 950 appears as avirtual laser pointer in the computer-generated, 3D environment. As theuser manipulates the computing device 950, the user in the VR space seesmovement of the laser pointer. The user receives feedback frominteractions with the computing device 950 in the VR space on thecomputing device 950 or on the VR headset 990.

In some implementations, one or more input devices in addition to thecomputing device (e.g., a mouse, a keyboard) can be rendered in acomputer-generated, 3D environment. The rendered input devices (e.g.,the rendered mouse, the rendered keyboard) can be used as rendered inthe VR space to control objects in the VR space.

In some implementations, the systems depicted throughout this disclosuremay include at least one computing device configured to generate avirtual environment. The at least one computing device may include amemory storing executable instructions and a processor configured toexecute the instructions, to cause the at least one computing device toperform a number of steps. The steps may include, among other things,generating a virtual environment including at least onethree-dimensional virtual object within a user interface provided in ahead mounted display device. Inputs may be detected based on userinteractions. For example, the at least one computing device may detecta first interaction pattern and/or a second interaction pattern. Thefirst interaction pattern may include an indication to modify a firstvirtual feature associated with the three-dimensional virtual object.The second interaction pattern may include an orientation and movementcorresponding to a modification to be performed on a second virtualfeature associated with the three-dimensional virtual object. Inresponse to detecting the second interaction pattern, the computingdevice may generate a modified version of the three-dimensional virtualobject at the first virtual feature according to the first interactionpattern and at the second virtual feature according to the secondinteraction pattern. Such modified versions of virtual objects can beprovided in the user interface in the head mounted display device. Insome implementations, the modified versions of the three-dimensionalvirtual object may be generated and rendered in the virtual environmentwhile the movement is occurring (e.g., in real time). In someimplementations, the first interaction pattern defines a location inwhich to begin modifying the first virtual feature while the secondinteraction pattern defines a direction and orientation away from thesecond virtual feature.

Computing device 900 is intended to represent various forms of digitalcomputers, such as laptops, desktops, workstations, personal digitalassistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and other appropriatecomputers. Computing device 950 is intended to represent various formsof mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants, cellulartelephones, smart phones, and other similar computing devices. Thecomponents shown here, their connections and relationships, and theirfunctions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limitimplementations of the inventions described and/or claimed in thisdocument.

A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will beunderstood that various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the specification.

In addition, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require theparticular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirableresults. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may beeliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be addedto, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, otherembodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising:generating a virtual environment including at least onethree-dimensional virtual object within a user interface generated for ahead mounted display device; detecting a first interaction pattern, thefirst interaction pattern including an input selecting at least twolocations on the three-dimensional virtual object in which to beginmodifying at least one virtual feature associated with thethree-dimensional virtual object; triggering display of at least onevisual indication in the user interface while continuing to depict thethree-dimensional virtual object, the at least one visual indicationdepicting a way in which the three-dimensional virtual object isvisually modifiable using the at least two selected locations; inresponse to detecting a second interaction pattern including anorientation and movement corresponding to a modification to beperformed, according to the visual indication and on the at least onevirtual feature associated with the three-dimensional virtual object,generating a modified version of the three-dimensional virtual objectaccording to the first interaction pattern and the second interactionpattern; and providing, in the user interface in the head mounteddisplay device, the modified version of the three-dimensional virtualobject.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object is generated for the virtualenvironment while the movement corresponding to the second interactionpattern occurs.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second interactionpattern defines a direction and orientation away from the virtualfeature, and the modified version of the three-dimensional virtualobject includes a scaled version of the three-dimensional virtualobject, the scaled version being scaled from the virtual feature.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the modified version of the three-dimensionalvirtual object is adjusted from the virtual feature to an updatedposition, orientation, and scale of the three-dimensional virtualobject, the modified version being within a user field of view in thevirtual environment.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:enabling a uniform scaling mode in response to detecting that the firstinteraction pattern is performed in the same axis of the threedimensions as the second interaction pattern, wherein the uniformscaling mode is configured to scale the three-dimensional virtual objectevenly in three dimensions according to the first interaction patternand the second interaction pattern.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereingenerating a modified version of the three-dimensional virtual object atthe virtual feature according to the first interaction pattern and thesecond interaction pattern includes stretching and twisting thethree-dimensional virtual object, the stretching including defining afirst anchor point and a second anchor point on the three-dimensionalvirtual object and stretching in a plane formed between the first anchorpoint and the second anchor point.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereintwisting the three-dimensional virtual object includes rotating thethree-dimensional virtual object in three-dimensional space at a firstlocation of the at least two locations in a first input plane androtating the three-dimensional virtual object in three-dimensional spaceat a second location of the at least two locations from a second inputplane to a third input plane, wherein the first input plane correspondsto an X-Y coordinate plane, the second input plane corresponds to a Y-Zcoordinate plane, and the third input plane corresponds to an X-Zcoordinate plane, each plane being of a three-dimensional coordinatespace.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the first interactionpattern includes detecting a first location of the at least twolocations associated with a first tracked device and detecting thesecond interaction pattern includes detecting a second location of theat least two locations associated with a second tracked device.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: generating a first intersectionpoint at a first location of the at least two selected locations basedat least in part on detecting a first tracked hand movement performed bya left hand of a user accessing the virtual environment; generating asecond intersection point at a second location of the at least twoselected locations based at least in part on detecting a second trackedhand movement performed by a right hand of the user accessing thevirtual environment; and modifying the three-dimensional virtual objectaccording to the first interaction pattern and the second interactionpattern, the modifying being based at least in part on determining thatat least one gesture performed in the first tracked hand movement or thesecond tracked hand movement is a change in orientation associated withthe three-dimensional virtual object, and performing the at least onegesture while modifying the three-dimensional object according to anadditional received gesture.
 10. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising: generating an anchor point configured to freeze, inthree-dimensional space, a portion of the three-dimensional virtualobject, at the first intersection point while modifying thethree-dimensional object at the virtual feature according to the secondinteraction pattern.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating ananchor point comprises defining at least one location of the at leasttwo selected locations on the three-dimensional virtual object as aselectable scaling location, the selectable scaling location beingoperable to receive a user-initiated input, the user-initiated inputincluding at least one gesture indicating a direction for scaling thethree-dimensional virtual object.
 12. A computer-implemented methodcomprising: detecting, in a three-dimensional virtual environment, afirst interaction pattern performed by a first electronic device and ona three-dimensional virtual object rendered in the virtual environment,the first interaction pattern including an input selecting at least twolocations on the three-dimensional virtual object in which to beginmodifying at least one virtual feature associated with thethree-dimensional virtual object; triggering display of at least onevisual indication while continuing to depict the three-dimensionalvirtual object, the at least one visual indication depicting a way inwhich the three-dimensional virtual object is modifiable using the atleast two selected locations; in response to detecting a secondinteraction pattern, the second interaction pattern including anorientation and movement corresponding to a modification to beperformed, according to the visual indication, on the at least onevirtual feature associated with the three-dimensional virtual object,generating a modified version of the three-dimensional virtual objectaccording to the first interaction pattern and the second interactionpattern; and generating, in a user interface, the modified version ofthe three-dimensional virtual object according to the first interactionpattern and the second interaction pattern.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising, enabling a uniform scaling mode in response todetecting that the input is associated with a first electronic deviceoriented to face a second electronic device, wherein the uniform scalingmode is configured to scale the three-dimensional virtual object evenlyin three dimensions according to the first interaction pattern and thesecond interaction pattern.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereindetecting that the first electronic device is oriented to face thesecond electronic device includes: detecting an initial position andorientation of the second electronic device relative to the firstelectronic device; tracking at least one gesture performed by the secondelectronic device relative to the first electronic device; and detectingan alignment of the second electronic device to the first electronicdevice by comparing the initial position and orientation of the secondelectronic device relative to the first electronic device with adetected updated position and orientation of the first or the secondelectronic device, the detected updated position being based on the atleast one gesture.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein generating amodified version of the three-dimensional virtual object includesproviding the visual indication, in the virtual environment and affixedto the three-dimensional virtual object, the visual indication includinga plurality of anchor points defining snapping frames configured toselect at least one coordinate system in which to translate and rotatethe virtual object in three dimensions, wherein at least two of theplurality of anchor points correspond to the at least two selectedlocations.
 16. The method of claim 12, further comprising, in responseto detecting the second interaction pattern, defining a rotation path torotate the three-dimensional virtual object around a location associatedwith the virtual feature.
 17. A system, comprising: at least onecomputing device configured to generate a virtual environment, the atleast one computing device including, a memory storing executableinstructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions, tocause the at least one computing device to: generate a virtualenvironment including at least one three-dimensional virtual objectwithin a user interface generated for a head mounted display device;detect a first interaction pattern, the first interaction patternincluding an input selecting at least two locations on thethree-dimensional virtual object in which to begin modifying at leastone virtual feature associated with the three-dimensional virtualobject; trigger display of at least one visual indication in the userinterface while continuing to depict the three-dimensional virtualobject, the at least one visual indication depicting a way in which thethree-dimensional virtual object is visually modifiable using the atleast two selected locations; in response to detecting a secondinteraction pattern including an orientation and movement correspondingto a modification to be performed according to the visual indication andon the at least one virtual feature associated with thethree-dimensional virtual object, generating a modified version of thethree-dimensional virtual object according to the first interactionpattern and the second interaction pattern; and provide, in the userinterface in the head mounted display device, the modified version ofthe three-dimensional virtual object.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the modified version of the three-dimensional virtual object isgenerated and rendered in the virtual environment while the movementcorresponding to the second interaction pattern occurs.
 19. The systemof claim 17, wherein the second interaction pattern defines a directionand orientation away from the virtual feature, and the modified versionof the three-dimensional virtual object includes a scaled version of thethree-dimensional virtual object, the scaled version being scaled fromthe virtual feature.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the modifiedversion of the three-dimensional virtual object is adjusted from thevirtual feature to an updated position, orientation, and scale of thethree-dimensional virtual object, the modified version being within auser field of view in the virtual environment.
 21. The system of claim17, further comprising: enabling a uniform scaling mode in response todetecting that the first interaction pattern is performed in the sameaxis of the three dimensions as the second interaction pattern, whereinthe uniform scaling mode is configured to scale the three-dimensionalvirtual object evenly in three dimensions according to the firstinteraction pattern and the second interaction pattern.
 22. A method,comprising: obtaining, with one or more optical sensors of a computingdevice, a plurality of characteristics about a virtual object;generating, by a processor of the computing device, a three-dimensionalvirtual model of the virtual object based on the plurality ofcharacteristics; processing, by the processor, the plurality ofcharacteristics and the three-dimensional virtual model to generate aplurality of anchor points in the three-dimensional virtual model, theplurality of anchor points defining a plurality of selectable regions onthe virtual object, the anchor points being associated with predefinedrules for triggering a plurality of visual modifications of the virtualobject; in response to receiving input selecting at least two of theplurality of selectable regions, triggering display of at least onevisual indication including an illustration depicting a way in which thevirtual object is modifiable responsive to the at least two selectedregions corresponding to the input and according to at least one of thepredefined rules; and in response to receiving additional movement whilemaintaining the selection of the at least two selectable regions,modifying a size and orientation of the virtual object according to theillustration and based on the additional movement and on the pluralityof characteristics associated with the virtual object.
 23. The method ofclaim 22, wherein the plurality of characteristics associated with thevirtual object include one or more of a planarity, a dimension, an area,an orientation, a corner, a boundary, a contour or a surface texture forthe virtual object.
 24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:generating a virtual reality environment including the three dimensionalvirtual model of the of the virtual object in the virtual realityenvironment; and automatically scaling the virtual object while rotatingthe virtual object in three dimensions in the generated virtual realityenvironment based on a two-hand interaction performed by a user toselect the at least two locations and based on detected characteristicsassociated with the virtual object.